Mr Joseph Bart-Plange has won the Made In Ghana Logo contest organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry; which would serve as the brand for products of local industries.

The logo is composed of a star designed in the national colours of red, gold and green in a black background with the inscription “Made-In-Ghana” – Premium Quality in white; was chosen from more than 100 entries submitted by 72 people.

The youthful Mr Bart-Plange, took home a laptop computer and a cheque for GH¢ 10,000.00 for his prize. Telemedia, the first runner up received GH¢ 3,000.00 and a laptop computer, whereas Ms Yvonne Ayensu Kumi, the second runner also received GH¢ 1,000.00 and a laptop computer.

It would be recalled that President John Dramani Mahama in 2014 inaugurated an 18-member steering committee to promote Made In Ghana goods.

The committee, chaired by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, is expected to design policies to promote a national programme on patronising locally manufactured products.

The steering committee is also made up of institutions such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), GRATIS Foundation, Ghana Trade Fair Authority and the Brand Ghana Office, Institute of Public Relations, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Performing the launch of the logo in Accra, Dr Spio-Garbrah said the logo would become an iconic symbol to showcase products of industries in Ghana.

He said the main objective of Made In Ghana was to support local manufacturers, create jobs, generate income, improve quality of life, reduce trade imbalance and to change the mindset of Ghanaians towards locally manufactured products.

He said government attaches high priorities to promote Made In Ghana good; explaining that the current situation where Ghana imports more goods than exported creates trade imbalance which has serious implications for the rate of inflation and the cedi value against other international currencies such as the dollar.

The Minister said it was high time Ghanaians patronised Made In Ghana goods as part of efforts to promote the local industries thereby creating more jobs for Ghanaians; stating that importation of goods creates jobs for citizens of other countries.

He announced that about three Indian companies have held discussions with the Ministry with the intention of setting up sugar manufacturing factories in the country.

Mr Ken Ashigbey, Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, expressed his enthusiasm over the fact that the award winners of the Made In Ghana logo contest were youth; which according to him, shows that the nation has a bright future.

He said the logo must epitomise quality for goods produced in the country, and urged businesses to endeavour to have it embossed on their products.

Mr Seth Adjei-Baah, President of Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested the institution of a Made In Ghana Day during which locally manufactured goods would be exhibited at a fair or a forum.

He said that members of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce are ready to emboss their products with the Made-In-Ghana logo.

Mr James Asare-Adjei, the President of AGI, who chaired the launch, said the Made In Ghana promotion is very central to changing the structure of the nation’s economy from import to an export oriented economy.